WindUp for Sailors
From dinghy starts to coastal cruises, WindUp pings you when wind, gust and direction line up at your home club or destination harbour.
Set it once — WindUp rings the second sailing wind hits, even on Silent.
What WindUp does for sailors.
- Live data from harbours, marinas and coastal stations
- Gust threshold separate from average — know when to reef before you leave
- Direction filters for upwind starts and reach courses
WindUp is a free live wind alarm — set your sailing wind window once and it watches your spot for you, even on Do Not Disturb or Silent.
What wind speed do you need for sailing?
Sailing has the widest comfort range of any wind sport because boats differ so much. A dinghy comes alive from around 8 knots, a keelboat loves 12-18, and most weekend crews start reefing past 20. The 8-20 knot band covers a good day out for most recreational sailing without tipping into survival conditions.
Gusts, not just averages
Gusts decide when you reef. A steady 16 knots is a lovely sail; the same average gusting to 28 means a reef and a careful eye on the crew. Watching the peak, not just the mean, keeps the rail out of the water.
How to set your sailing alarm
Set WindUp to your boat's sweet spot - a dinghy sailor might use 8-18 kt, a cruiser 10-20 kt - and add a gust ceiling as your reef-before-you-leave trigger. Direction filters help if your club only works on certain breezes.
The sailing edge.
The old rule survives because it's right: reef when you first think about it. On the data side, remember your station reads true wind — close-hauled you'll feel several knots more apparent, so a 16-kt alarm means a high-teens beat. If your harbor station sits in a lee, set your threshold 2–3 kt below what you want to feel on open water.
Popular sailing spots.
| Spot | What to expect |
|---|---|
| The Solent, UK | Busy, tidal and shifty - classic English keelboat and dinghy water. |
| San Francisco Bay, USA | Reliable strong summer sea breeze through the Gate. |
| Lake Garda, Italy | Dependable thermals make it a dinghy-racing favourite. |
| Sydney Harbour, Australia | Sea breezes and sheltered bays for year-round sailing. |
Sailing wind, answered.
What wind is too much for sailing?
Can WindUp alert me only when my home club is sailable?
Best wind speed for sailing?
Sailing wind, in depth.
More on sailing & WindUp.
Ready when the wind is. The alarm's free.
Set one alarm at your spot. WindUp wakes you up the moment sailing conditions fire.